I have always been passionate about vintage French style, especially for fabulous vintage textiles and monogrammed dowry linens. This passion lead to the start of my own personal collection and archive. I made regular crossings over the English Channel to visit shops, attend antiques fairs and trawl through stalls at street brocantes to source gorgeous fabrics and other decorative items which I eventually began to sell at antiques fairs in England - and I am still consumed with this passion some twenty years later!

My customers' interest was not only limited to textiles. Someone would ask me to look out for a particular piece of traditional French furniture; another an opulent chandelier; another perhaps a quirky French home accessory. As a result, it seemed that I was spending half my life on a ferry! I knew that it would be only a matter of time before I would realise my dream, sell my shop in the UK and actually move to live in France.

I made the move in 2005 and now spend my time 'truffling out' items which I then put up for sale on my auctionsite. My philosophy is a simple one; I only bring home those finds which I would love to have on display in my own home. Rarely does anything shiny or pristine catch my eye; I adore everything shabby chic: furniture in its original distressed paint, quirky kitchenalia, rustic country items - and not forgetting, of course, vintage textiles and home embellishments full of faded grandeur.

Those items pictured on this and the previous page are a few examples of the many treasures found on my travels which I have recently sold. Please follow the link to my auction site where you will find my current listings. I try to add to my listings on a daily basis - so there should always be something new to look at. You can also read my latest news on my blogsite www.simply-chateau.blogspot.com .

Should you have any questions about my French finds or would like me to look for a particular item, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for visiting 'Simply Chateau'.
à la prochaine.......